TechBeat

A step up for CBRN protection

Attacks or accidents involving chemicals, biological agents, or radiation are likely the most dangerous a law enforcement officer can face. The protective equipment that officers rely on in such incidents must meet the highest standards.

Equipment Performance Standards

Existing performance standards for such equipment serve other first responders well, but a law enforcement officer’s mission requires different performance requirements for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective equipment.

To address that need, the law enforcement community asked the Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to develop a standard specifically for CBRN protective equipment used by law enforcement officers. The standard will focus on protective ensembles designed to provide full-body protection against exposure to CBRN hazards. When completed, the standard will be published by NIJ.

Collaborating With Partners

NIJ has been working closely with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DoD) to leverage related efforts where possible to expedite release of the new NIJ standard.

In August 2007, NIJ organized a special technical committee composed of subject matter experts, many of whom are members of the law enforcement community. Other agencies represented include NFPA, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, DHS, DoD, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Tactical Officers Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and organizations that test and certify personal protective equipment.

The committee identified the specific needs and requirements of law enforcement and shortfalls in existing equipment standards and test methods, such as auditory requirements and ergonomic tests. The committee is addressing these shortfalls, determining conformity assessment requirements, and generating a new CBRN ensemble standard.

This article was reprinted from the Summer 2008 edition of TechBeat, the award-winning quarterly newsmagazine of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System, a program of the National Institute of Justice under Cooperative Agreement #2005–MU–CX–K077, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice.

About the author

TechBeat is the award-winning news-magazine of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system. Our goal is to keep you up to date with technologies currently being developed by the NLECTC system, as well as other research and development efforts within the Federal Government and private industry. See more articles at https://www.justnet.org/InteractiveTechBeat/index.html. We welcome all questions, comments, and story ideas. Please contact NLECTC at 800-248-2742, or email to asknlectc@nlectc.org.

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